Bernabd conlan



(No Model.)

B. GONLAN.

CLASP POR BOOKS, &c.

No. 355,974. Patent'edJan. 11,1887;A

N. PETERS. Phuwlxxhuguphun washingwn. D. C.

BERNARD CONLAN, OF NEWARK, N EV JERSEY.

CLASP FOR BOOKS, sto.

SPECIFICATION forming part Of Letters Patent No. 355,974, dated January 11, 1887. Application filed June 5, 1886. Serial No. 204,195. (No model.)

To @ZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, BERNARD CONLAN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Newark, in the county of Essex and State of New Jersey, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Glasps for Books and Albums; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear,and exact description ofthe invention,such as will enable others skilled in the art to Which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to letters of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

This invention relates to that class of clasps for books, albums, Src., adapted to be adjusted as the book increases in thickness, because of the insertion therein of cards, photographs, and similar desiderata, the object of the invention being to provide a more positive clasp, to avoid the use of springs and bearings, to reduce the cost of construction, and to increase the strength and durability of the device.

The invention consists in the improved book or album clasp, having the construction and arrangement of parts, substantially as will be hereinafter more fully described, and iinally embodied in the clauses of the claim.

The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in Which- Figure 1 represents an edge elevation of an album having the improved clasp attached thereto and showing an actuating arm or lever, for repressing or extending the tongue, in dottedlinesbehindacasingorbody-plate. Fig. 2 is a back view of said clasp, and shows the position of the actuating arm or lever in its upward or repressed position. elevation, and Fig. 4 a section, the axial line X. f

In the drawings like letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in each of the several igures.

In said drawings, A and A2 represent the covers of an album, B.

G indicates the casing or body-plate of the clasp, pivoted by means of apin or pivotal, p, to a clip or edge plate, E, which is lirmly fastened in any ordinary manner at e e to one of the covers, as A', of the album.

Fig. 3 is a side taken through L is an actuating-arm or lever, with a ngerpiece, Z, said arm being fulcrumed to the casing or body-plate C at G, and at F to an eX- tensible plate or tongue, D, which latter extends through an opening in the extremity of the casing or body-plate C. The tongue D is provided with a hole, g, intended to receive a knob, d, on a clip or edge plate, E2, similar to the clip E, and secured in the usual manner to the other cover, A2, of the album at c' e.

The actuating arm or lever L is bent 'in such a manner as to spring into engagement with a series of ratchet-teeth formed on a bent edge at one side of the casing, said teeth being formed in such a way as to allow the lever L to slip over the s lanting edge q', during the downward movement of the extensible plate D, Without manipulating said lever, the teeth having also stops q2, adapted to positively prevent any ontward movement of the lever L or extensible plate D, without'irst disengaging the lever from the teeth by means of a slight push on the nger-piece I.

I am aware that prior to my invention clasps for books, albums, dic., adapted to be adjusted as the book increases in thickness, have been made; but these clasps Were provided with springs, which Were apt to give Way to the pressure between the coversof the/book as it increased in thickness, and which springs were often weak and apt to break when increased strain was brought to bear upon the clasp.

In my invention I avoid the use of springbearings and bring the actuating arm orlever in close contact with one of the teeth in the casing, Where said lever is held firmly, no matter how great a pressure there may be loetween the covers. Furthermore, in my invention the cost of construction is reduced, while strength and durability are increased,by avoiding the use of springs, which are liable to be Weak and to break. The actuating arm or lever being bent so as to act like a spring, secures another great advantage in my albumclasp, as said arm or lever constantly presses against the teeth in the casing or body-plate Ol' the clasp. Thus When the album is increased in thickness by cards, photographs, &c., the covers need only to be pressed together by the hands of any person, when the actuating arm or lever slips over the teeth in. the body-plate, automatically locking itself and positively preventing outward movement.

When it is intended to open the book, a slight pressure of the thumb on the fingerpiece on said lever disengages the latter from the teeth, and the tendency of the pressure between the covers will be to extend the tongue or extensible plate, thus enabling the person to remove said tongue or plate with ease from the knob secured to the clip, which is fastened to the cover. i

Having thus described my invention, What I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. An album or book clasp adapted to adjust itself to the thicknessI of the book and comprising,in combination,the casing or bodyplate C, having an actuating arm or lever, L, pivoted thereto at G, the tongue or extensible plate D, With said actuating arm or lever pivoted thereto at F, and an opening, as g, in the plate D, to receive a knob, d, fixed to theclip E2, substantially as set forth.

2. The combination, in a clasp,substantially as described, With/the bodyplate C, having teeth R, formed on a bent edge thereof, of an actuating arm or lever, L, fulcrumed to the body-plate and engaging with the teeth It, as and for the purpose set forth.

3. The combination, in a clasp, substantially as described, with a body-plate, C, having teeth formed on a bent edge thereof, of an extensible plate or tongue, D, operated by the actuating arm or lever, said extensible plate or tongue having an opening, as g, at one end,

adapted to receive a knob, as d, xed to the clip E2, as and for the purpose set forth.

4. The combination,in a clasp, substantially as described, With the body-plate C and the extensible plate or tongue D, of the actuating arm or lever L, pivoted to said extensible plate at F, by means of which the extensible plate may be repressed or extended, as and for the purpose set forth.

5. The combination,in a clasp, substantially as described, with the body-plate C, having teeth formed on a bent edge thereof, of an actuating arm or lever, L, fulcrumed to the bodyplate, said lever being a spring pressing against said teeth, as and for the purpose Vset, forth.

6. The combnation,in a clasp, substantially as described, with the body-plate, of an extensible plate or tongue having a series of positive bearings, to prevent outward movement or to positively resist tendency ofthe book or covers thereof to open, and a spring arm or detent adapted to allow said extensible plate to be repressed without manipulating the same.

7. In a book-clasp, the pivoted plate O, extensible plate D, stops or bearings q2, slanting edges q', and a spring-lever, all said parts being arranged and combined substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing I have hereunto set my hand this thday of May, 1886.

BERNARD GONLAN.

Witnesses: 4

OLIVER DRAKE, FREDK. F. CAMPBELL. 

